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Sub-Zero refrigerators/freezers, models 550 and 501

CPSC Recall #94-130 - September 18, 1994

Recall Summary

Recall Number94-130
Recall DateSeptember 18, 1994
Remedy Type-
Units AffectedApproximately 61,000

Product

Sub-Zero refrigerators/freezers, models 550 and 501

Description

Washington, D.C. - CPSC, Sub-Zero Freezer Company Inc. of Madison, Wis., is voluntarily offering to inspect, at no cost, its model 550 and 501 built-in refrigerators/freezers installed between June 1989 and December 1992. Sub-Zero has received 30 reports of the refrigerators/freezers tipping forward, including nine injuries. All tipovers involved refrigerators that were not properly secured during installation. Approximately 61,000 refrigerators/freezers were sold nationwide through kitchen dealers and appliance stores. The refrigerators are 36 inches wide and have the name "Sub- Zero" on the ventilating grill. The model number is on a sticker attached to the interior door frame. Model 501 refrigerators/freezers have a single door with the motor on the bottom. Model 550 refrigerator/freezers have a drawer on the bottom, a single refrigerator door, and the motor on top. These refrigerators/freezers are intended to be secured to the wall studs or to solidly-attached surrounding cabinets. Failure to secure them during installation could allow the refrigerators/freezers to fall forward during use. Owners of Models 501 and 550 refrigerators/freezers installed between June 1989 and December 1992 should contact Sub-Zero to arrange for a free installation inspection and, if necessary, correction by calling 1-800-222-7820, or by sending their name, address, and telephone number to: Sub- Zero Freezer Company Inc., P.O. Box 44130, Madison, WI 53744-4130. 

Hazard

Sub-Zero has received 30 reports of the refrigerators/freezers tipping forward, including nine injuries. All tipovers involved refrigerators that were not properly secured during installation.

Incidents & Injuries

Sub-Zero has received 30 reports of the refrigerators/freezers tipping forward, including nine injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Owners of Models 501 and 550 refrigerators/freezers installed between June 1989 and December 1992 should contact Sub-Zero to arrange for a free installation inspection and, if necessary, correction by calling 1-800-222-7820, or by sending their name, address, and telephone number to: Sub- Zero Freezer Company Inc., P.O. Box 44130, Madison, WI 53744-4130.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (refund, replacement, or repair) at no cost to you.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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